The great 20th century cellist, Pablo Casals, was the first in the world to record all six of Bach’s suites for unaccompanied cello.  This was in 1939.  Before this, people only considered the suites as study pieces.  Casals proved them wrong, and now the suites are among the most beloved works for the instrument of all time.

 

Amit Peled, an Israeli-born former basketball player (he’s 6’ 5”), now a Peabody professor who happened upon an opportunity only granted a handful of cellists:  Casals’ widow (Marta Casals Istomin) entrusted Peled with this instrument, for six years.  Peled’s recording is the first, since Casals, performing all six suites on the very instrument that brought this music to the world.